January 20, 2017 #TriCitiesWx Forecast

A warm front has moved through, continuing our warm temperatures that we’ve seen for quite a while. Rain comes this weekend into next week, and winter returns toward the end of the week, it appears. Welcome to the Tri-Cities Weather Blog forecast for tonight through Tuesday!

Everyone is at least in the upper 50’s today, as skies have started to clear a bit behind that warm front as it is now east and northeast of us. Folks close to Knoxville are knocking on the door of 70 degrees, in fact! Don’t get used to such warmth, though, it all changes next week. Here’s the outlook:

Monday-More rain likely, highs around 55, but cooler in the afternoon.

Tuesday-Mostly cloudy, scattered showers possible mainly early in the day. Highs near 50.

Low pressure will form off the North Carolina coast tonight and by tomorrow it will move offshore. In its wake, rain showers will be likely starting tomorrow night. A cold front coming in from the west will then enhance rain chances for the rest of the weekend into early next week.

Rain should end on Tuesday, and we may get a short break in the rain until another cold front comes through on Wednesday into Thursday. That is what will bring our temperatures back down to below average.

In fact, after the front we may see what is known as a northwest flow snow event. As winds come in from the northwest, they bring cooler air and snow showers all the way from Lake Michigan. It doesn’t produce the prodigious snowfalls that occur in lake effect situations for the most part. Right now, this particular event for next Thursday and Friday doesn’t look to have too much of an impact on us with only an inch or less of snow possible, but I’ll definitely keep an eye on it as things might change in the coming days.

My first forecast for the entirety of next week should be ready here on the blog Sunday evening, and I might have a little bit better idea of what might take place late in the week. Have a great weekend!